Social Psychology

While authoritarianism is often associated with the political right, new research shows it exists on the extreme left, too. These rigid views are closely tied to a focus on social grievance and underlying psychological distress.

Decades after the Nazi regime, their propaganda still holds psychological power. A recent study reveals that viewing glorifying photos of Adolf Hitler softens the guilt and shame modern viewers feel about past atrocities.

Sitting near a window at work could be a simple way to boost metabolic health. A new study shows that natural daylight during office hours helps people with type 2 diabetes maintain healthier blood sugar levels and burn fat.

Research published in Sociological Forum suggests that engaging in identity politics is associated with lower mental well-being. The findings indicate this focus might explain why political progressives report more depression and anxiety than their conservative peers.

A large-scale brain imaging study of over 800 incarcerated men reveals that highly psychopathic individuals possess an expanded cortical surface area and a compressed physical brain organization, offering new clues into the biology of empathy and antisocial behavior.

A large-scale analysis reveals that transgender individuals across Europe face decidedly higher rates of discrimination and violence than cisgender sexual minorities, regardless of the relative strength of their home country’s equality laws.

A new study reveals that voluntarily experiencing fear, like visiting a haunted attraction, can strengthen social bonds. However, researchers found that the true secret to this interpersonal connection lies in talking about the scary experience afterward.

For years, researchers have claimed that men’s friendships are shallower and less emotionally supportive than women’s, a pattern called the “gender friendship gap.” But new research challenges how universal that really is.

A new study suggests that carrying excess body weight doesn't inherently hurt your chances of finding employment in Australia. Once researchers accounted for past job history, body mass had little to no impact on current job prospects.

A study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science found that people who endorsed more conservative social attitudes tended to report having more children across a large international sample, suggesting that these attitudes may be linked to contemporary reproductive patterns.

A newly published study challenges the idea that liberals and conservatives have inherently different worldviews, revealing that traits like cynicism and institutional trust flip dramatically depending on whose political party holds the White House.

A comprehensive assessment of twins and their families reveals that narcissistic traits are inherited genetically, contradicting the popular belief that parenting styles cause narcissism. Individual experiences outside the home shape the remaining variations in this personality trait.

New research in Evolution and Human Behavior suggests the social benefits of gaming depend on the context. While games might not immediately forge friendships, computer simulations indicate the behavior evolved as a survival strategy to assess potential allies.

Hostile political debate might have less to do with deep ideological divides and more to do with social status. A new study finds that young men frequently use moral outrage as a competitive tool to shame opponents.

A new study reveals a substantial decline in American support for transgender women competing in female sports. Researchers suggest conservative political messaging effectively reframed the issue.